- 3 hours ago
- iPad
- Medhi Naitmazi
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Very clever is the one who knows where Apple is with the iPad OLED. After several rumors contradictory in recent months, a new report from the supply chain indicates that the display supplier, LG, is engaged in specific preparation for the production of iPad OLED.
At one point it was reported that Apple was going to switch to OLED displays for the iPad Air 5, which is expected to launch at an event in March or April, but now we expect the technology to screen will debut on the iPad later, likely on the iPad Pro line.
Apple and the screen technology transition
Let’s start by recalling the four types of current or future display technology on which Apple is working:
- IPS-LCD. The oldest type that’s being replaced pretty much everywhere except entry-level iPads, iPhones, and Macs.
- IPS LCD with miniLED backlight. Apple adopted this technology for the 2021 iPad Pro models and now uses it in the new 2021 MacBook Pro. It approaches OLED with stronger contrast and better brightness.
- OLED. Arrived in 2015 on the Apple Watch, OLED arrived on the iPhone in 2017 with the iPhone X. It is expected on other products from 2023.
- MicroLED. This more sophisticated version of OLED is not yet available, as it is too expensive to mass produce for Apple’s needs. It is brighter, more energy efficient and does not suffer from burning. The firm has been interested in it since 2014 in its patents.
iPad Pro M1 2021 © iPhoneSoft
LG prepares the production of the iPad OLED
While some like Mong-Chi Kuo announced an iPad Air 5 with OLED technology for this year, other reports quickly contradicted this assumption. Samsung would not have found a way to produce in sufficient quantity, and Apple would then have looked to other suppliers.
The most recent report indicated that Korea’s LG plans to double the production capacity of an OLED factory dedicated to small and medium-sized screens. A new report published today in The Elec is more accurate – and credible.
LG Display is moving part of its E5 line OLED production equipment from its factory in Gumi, South Korea, to its factory in Paju, TheElec has learned.
The company was moving some of its tensioners __ used to deposit OLED materials on the panel during production __ to its E6-4 line at its P10 plant in Paju, sources said. […].
LG Display is likely doing this in preparation for producing the OLED panels that Apple plans to use for future iPad models, they said. […] The factory already houses the E6-1 and E6-2 lines that manufacture OLED panels for iPhones.
This is important because the equipment described is extremely fragile, and transport could damage it. To take this risk, LG must be extremely convinced that it will be chosen by Apple to produce OLED panels in the coming months. Are we betting on an iPad Pro 2023 with OLED screen?